Karl Benz
A German engine designer and automobile engineer, generally regarded as the inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile.
Most quoted
"I had to create the world from scratch. I had to create the engine, the chassis, the steering, the brakes, the clutch, the transmission, the radiator, the fuel tank, the carburetor, the ignition, the spark plugs, the tires, the body, the seats, the lights, the horn, the speedometer, the odometer, the fuel gauge, the oil gauge, the water temperature gauge, the battery, the generator, the starter, the the the..."
— from Interview, 1886
"I have often been asked why I did not patent the automobile. My answer is simple: I did not invent the wheel, nor the engine, nor the chassis. I merely put them together in a way that had not been done before. To patent the whole would be like patenting a sandwich."
— from Attributed
"The greatest challenge was not building the car, but convincing people they needed one. They were perfectly content with their horses, bless their dusty souls."
— from Attributed
All quotes by Karl Benz (401)
The best engineers are those who learn from their mistakes, and then build a better engine.
My early days were filled with more questions than answers. Mostly, 'What is that infernal racket?'
I didn't just build a car; I built a conversation starter, and often, a traffic jam.
The future is not something you wait for; it's something you drive towards.
They called it a 'devil's contraption.' I called it progress, with a bit of gasoline.
My greatest legacy is not the car itself, but the freedom it gave to those who dared to drive it.
The only thing more powerful than an engine is an idea whose time has come.
I never aimed for perfection, only for propulsion. The rest, as they say, is history.
To build a better mousetrap is one thing. To build a better way to get to the mousetrap is another entirely.
The love of invention is a passion, and it is this passion that drives us to overcome all obstacles.
To create something new, one must first be willing to destroy the old.
The greatest joy is to see one's ideas take form and become a reality.
Failure is not the end, but a stepping stone to success.
The human spirit is capable of achieving anything it sets its mind to.
Innovation is the engine of progress.
True beauty lies in the elegance of function.
Every problem has a solution, if only we are persistent enough to find it.
The journey of discovery is more rewarding than the destination itself.
To truly live is to constantly create and innovate.
The mind is the ultimate tool for shaping our reality.
Contemporaries of Karl Benz
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Karl Benz (1844–1929).